Tuesday, May 26, 2020

The Star Went Before the Wise Men Matthew 2:9


Matthew shared what happened when, “Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem, Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him. When Herod the king had heard these things, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he demanded of them where Christ should be born. And they said unto him, In Bethlehem of Judea: for thus it is written by the prophet. And you Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are you not the least among the princes of Judah: for out of you shall come a Governor, that shall rule my people Israel. Then Herod, when he had privily called the wise men, inquired of them diligently what time the star appeared. And he sent them to Bethlehem, and said, Go and search diligently for the young child; and when you have found him, bring me word again, that I may come and worship him also”, and in chapter two and verse nine of his book, Matthew shares when the wise men, “heard the king, they departed' and lo, the star...went before them” where we read:

When they had heard the king, they departed; and, lo, the star, which they saw in the east,
went before them, till it came and stood over where the young child was.
The verse reads, When they had heard the king, they departed; and, lo, the star, which they saw in the east, ... Matthew began with the word, “when” which means “at the time and moment” “they had heard” or “the wise men were given the faculty to hear, perceive, understand and discover” “the king” or “Herod the ruler, leader, prince, commander and lord of the land”, “they departed” which means “the wise men pursued, continued on their journey and traversed”; “and, lo” or “and behold and see”, “the star” which means “the star within the sky”, “which they saw” or “that the wise men perceived, noticed, discerned and discovered” “in the east” which means “within the direction of the sun's rising”. Matthew shared how the “wise men” heard “king Herod's” request, left him and the “star” they saw “in the east” appeared.

The verse continued, ... went before them, till it came and stood over where the young child was. Matthew added the word, “went before them” which means “lead before the wise men”, “till” or “until such time as” “it came” which means “the star appeared, made it's appearance and arrived” “and stood over” or “and fixed, established and made firm itself above” “where” which means “the place wither” “the young child was” which means “the little male child was located”. Matthew shared how the “star” lead the “wise men” to the place where the “little child” was located, and it “established” itself directly over Him.

When we meditate upon Matthew's words in this verse, we see how God caused this “star” to lead the “wise men” to the place where “the King of the Jews” was located. David the King of Israel wrote, When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have ordained;” (Psalm 8:3), and this “star” was one of the greatest of them all. God intended for the “wise men” to know where His Son Jesus was, worship Him and bring honor and glory to Him as “Savior and Lord” of the world. As a side note, we see how Jesus at this time was a “little child” or “toddler” and not a “baby” as seen in many manger scenes at Christmas. Also we shall see how they came into a “house” in a couple verses instead of a manger, but suffice it to say that this “King of the Jews” was to be noted, worshiped and adored by these “wise men” from the east, and He is to be “worshiped and adored” by everyone who will yield to Him today.

Next time Matthew shares how the wise men, “when they saw the star, they rejoiced, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites,
http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore.








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